Reminders not working like I expected

[Errk!]

Reminders isn't quite what I was expecting it to be. I was thinking it would work more like Tasks in Outlook, where you create a Reminder for something you have to do, put a date on it, and set a reminder if you want (and dismiss it when it's done). Sort of like a Calendar event but for something you have to do whereas a Calendar event is more like somewhere you have to go. I don't like setting a Calendar app't to remind me to pay my cable bill.

Not being able to set a due date has me thinking I really don't have any use for it. Is there a 3rd party app that anyone can recommend that works more like Tasks in Outlook? A universal app that syncs across multiple devices would be ideal, if that's even possible.

 

[Menel]

Reminders isn't quite what I was expecting it to be. I was thinking it would work more like Tasks in Outlook, where you create a Reminder for something you have to do, put a date on it, and set a reminder if you want (and dismiss it when it's done). Sort of like a Calendar event but for something you have to do whereas a Calendar event is more like somewhere you have to go. I don't like setting a Calendar app't to remind me to pay my cable bill.

Not being able to set a due date has me thinking I really don't have any use for it. Is there a 3rd party app that anyone can recommend that works more like Tasks in Outlook? A universal app that syncs across multiple devices would be ideal, if that's even possible.

You described exactly how it works, and what I use it for.

You 'can' put a date on it. It's quite straight forward...

 

[rdowns]

turn on the 'on a day' button, then tap the date field.

 

[ladytonya]

Once you enter the reminder, click on it. That seems to be the step most people are missing here. When you click on the reminder, you'll have the option of setting it on a day or at a location. All the ones I've done so far have been to remind me of something once I reach a certain location and it is awesome! If you turn on "On a Day", you have to option of choosing a date and time, I think that's what you're looking for.

 

[Errk!]

You 'can' put a date on it. It's quite straight forward...

You can put a reminder date, and set it to repeat if you want. You can't set a due date.

I was hoping it would function like a Calendar app't - set the date, set a reminder. The biggest reason for this is to appear in the notification center for the reminder AND when it's due.

 

[r88my]

I think that the op is trying to say that he wants to set a due date and a reminder time, which are two totally separate things. I'm having the same problem, I can easily set a reminder alarm but can't see a way to just set a due date. The odd thing is that reminders I set up previously with 2do app that had both pieces of info show up fine with the reminders app. In iCal reminders have an option for both a due date and alert date. Another thing that is puzzling me and in fact making the app quite worthless is that I can't find a way to order the tasks by date.

For example, I want to set a reminder due on x of month that my car insurance runs out, but to be reminded about it a week before hand if that makes sense.

 

[icewing]

Seems to me the user interface could use a lot of improvement. Creating the Reminder, THEN tapping on it, THEN turning on "On a Day", etc.

Also really dislike that Repeating has so few options. I have several tasks that re-occur every 3 months (changing my water filter and furnace filters).

I was holding off on buying a to-do app, waiting for iOS 5, but Reminders just doesn't have enough functionality.

 

[Errk!]

I think that the op is trying to say that he wants to set a due date and a reminder time, which are two totally separate things. I'm having the same problem, I can easily set a reminder alarm but can't see a way to just set a due date. The odd thing is that reminders I set up previously with 2do app that had both pieces of info show up fine with the reminders app. In iCal reminders have an option for both a due date and alert date. Another thing that is puzzling me and in fact making the app quite worthless is that I can't find a way to order the tasks by date.

For example, I want to set a reminder due on x of month that my car insurance runs out, but to be reminded about it a week before hand if that makes sense.

Yes, exactly.

 

[Chozo]

So wait, let me get this straight...

There's an app called Reminders which does what the title itself says (reminds you) and you're complaining that an app called Reminders doesn't go beyond reminding you?

 

[r88my]

So wait, let me get this straight...

There's an app called Reminders which does what the title itself says (reminds you) and you're complaining that an app called Reminders doesn't go beyond reminding you?

There is a reminders pane in ical, which is incedentally also named reminders, and it has the ability to sync with the reminders app on iOS so why is it odd for us to expect them both to be able to display separate due and alert dates when reminders on ical has this function? The reminders app on iOS does display due and alert dates from tasks created using iCals reminders pane, so isn't it strange we can't do the same from within the reminders iOS app itself?

 

[Chozo]

There is a reminders pane in ical, which is incedentally also named reminders, and it has the ability to sync with the reminders app on iOS so why is it odd for us to expect them both to be able to display separate due and alert dates when reminders on ical has this function? The reminders app on iOS does display due and alert dates from tasks created using iCals reminders pane, so isn't it strange we can't do the same from within the reminders iOS app itself?

Oh then that's simple.
It's because it was made by Apple. They have a long history of doing what is seemingly erroneous.

 

[MEJHarrison]

My biggest complaint is that there isn't a snooze option. Someone mentioned setting a reminder for furnace filters. If that happens to come around at an inconvenient time, I'd like to option to tell it to remind me again in x minutes / hours / days / weeks / months.

Plus there aren't enough Repeat options as mentioned before.

It's a great start. But it needs some more work to be really useful. Still, I am loving location based reminders. Set one last night so I wouldn't forget to fill my tank this morning when I left home. Have one set for tonight to remind me to fix my missing album covers when I arrive home. So far that's been working great for me!

 

[zipster]

2Do.

 

[elfy]

Yeah, I think Todo will do what the OP wants.

 

[bobbydaz]

I can highly recommend Wunderlist for to dos. nicely designed simple to use and it's free. Syncs across all platforms too. Check it out....

http://www.6wunderkinder.com/wunderlist/

 

[Ding.Dong]

Seems to me the user interface could use a lot of improvement. Creating the Reminder, THEN tapping on it, THEN turning on "On a Day", etc.

Also really dislike that Repeating has so few options. I have several tasks that re-occur every 3 months (changing my water filter and furnace filters).

I was holding off on buying a to-do app, waiting for iOS 5, but Reminders just doesn't have enough functionality.

I agree. the interface is very clunky. Too many taps and not very intuitive. It's very un-Apple-like.

 

[minimo3]

I agree. the interface is very clunky. Too many taps and not very intuitive. It's very un-Apple-like.

That describes calendar too. Tap + to create entry, Tap on Title to enter title, Tap Done, Tap on Starts/End, scroll endless to find date 3 months from now, Tap Done, Tap on Repeat, select interval, Tap Done, Tap Alert, select alert time, Tap Done..... Tap the final Done to create the event

In ancient PalmOS you'd open the calendar, tap on the time slot and enter the appointment name. It would default to an hour. No need to tap on a Save button. If you wanted to add more info you tapped on details and could fill dates, times, repeating, alerts all on one screen. Tap Done

 

[JCapote]

Order of Reminders

Is there a way to change or set the order of Reminders in the list? I prefer mine to be listed by date, but it seems they are only ordered by entry order.

Am I missing something?

 

[ericg301]

Reminders isn't quite what I was expecting it to be. I was thinking it would work more like Tasks in Outlook, where you create a Reminder for something you have to do, put a date on it, and set a reminder if you want (and dismiss it when it's done). Sort of like a Calendar event but for something you have to do whereas a Calendar event is more like somewhere you have to go. I don't like setting a Calendar app't to remind me to pay my cable bill.

Not being able to set a due date has me thinking I really don't have any use for it. Is there a 3rd party app that anyone can recommend that works more like Tasks in Outlook? A universal app that syncs across multiple devices would be ideal, if that's even possible.

You can set a due date by adding a reminder via the web iCloud calendar. Otherwise, this is a known bug that has been reported and awknowledged by apple.

If you use gmail or and google tasks, I'm a fan of GoTasks.

 

[Errk!]

Otherwise, this is a known bug that has been reported and awknowledged by apple.

Not that I don't trust you, but do you have a source for this?

 

[GCF]

What is the order in Reminders?

Is there a way to change or set the order of Reminders in the list? I prefer mine to be listed by date, but it seems they are only ordered by entry order.

Am I missing something?

Agreed! I'd prefer to have them listed by Due Date (or Reminder Date since we've already discussed that there is no "Due Date"). I would at least like to order them in some rational manner! Yes, it's called Reminders, but what I'm comparing it is Tasks in Outlook, with which I prefer to synch my tasks/reminders. In place of the categories that I use in Outlook's Tasks, I was able to create new lists on my iPhone - so I now have a list on my iPhone for each Task category in Outlook. It looks a little clunky in Outlook, but at least the functionality is there to indicate which group of tasks I want to open (personal to-dos or work to-dos), now if I could just sort them by a reminder date that'd be fabulous!

Since the sort order is by data entered, it seems the only way to order them is to manually reenter old reminders so they appear at the bottom. Any other ideas on how to sort them?

Or are their other To-Do apps that work better and also synch with Outlook?

 

[redscull]

I agree. the interface is very clunky. Too many taps and not very intuitive. It's very un-Apple-like.

Reminders is the one thing so far that I absolutely love Siri for. I agree with everyone here that the tap-interface to the Reminders app is a bit cumbersome, but the voice-interface via Siri to create reminders works like a charm. I'm not even sure I'd use the Reminders app if I didn't also have Siri.